Λάπαθος, 𐤋𐤐𐤔
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A coins of ṢDQMLK, King of Lapathus
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  Shown within Cyprus | |
| Location | Cyprus |
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| Coordinates | 35°21′19″N 33°11′52″E / 35.355404°N 33.197851°E / 35.355404; 33.197851 |
Lapathus (Phoenician: 𐤋𐤐𐤔, romanized: LPŠ;[1] Greek: Λάπαθος, Lápathos),[2] also recorded as Lapethus (Λάπηθος, Lápēthos),[3][4] Lepethis (Ληπηθίς, Lēpēthís),[5] and Lapithus (Λάπιθος, Lápithos),[6] was an ancient Cypriot, Phoenician and Greek town near present-day Lampousa and Karavas.[7][8]
Due to lack of evidence, researchers had not been sure weather the Phoenician name of the city was LPṬ (with Teth) or LPT (with Taw);[9][10] recent findings, such as inscriptions and coins with legends, provide the clear reading LPŠ.[10] The Greek and the Phoenician name record, each in its own way, a phoneme of a language prior to them both.[10]
The foundation of Lapathus was credited to the Phoenician Kitians.[11] Nonnus claimed the name derived from an eponymous Lapathus, a follower of Dionysus.[12] Strabo said that it received a Spartan colony headed by Praxander.[2] He adds that it was situated opposite to the town of NagidusinCilicia and possessed a harbour and docks.[2] It was situated in the north of the island, on a river of the same name and in a district called Lapethia (Λαπηθία, Lapēthía).[13]
The coins of the city from the 5th and 4th canturies BC record rulers of the city, in Phoenician: DMWNKS the first, ṢDQMLK, ʾNDR... (shorted name), and DMWNKS the second.[14] The coins of the first two depicted the head of Athena, and the coins of the last two depicted Athena standing and Heracles.[14]
Inthe war between Ptolemy and Antigonus, Lapathus and its king Praxippus sided with the latter.[15]
The name of the place became synonymous with stupidity.[16]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). "Lapathus". Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray.|
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